The activities of the MADFish network center around research on natural selection, fitness variation and molecular adaptation in non-mammalian vertebrates with emphasis on marine and freshwater fish under changing environmental conditions.  There is an urgent need to better understand fitness variation both to interpret the patterns observed in nature and to identify and evaluate the risks natural populations are facing with environmental change. Current research and research training in this field the Nordic countries are fragmented because of geographic separation and because the culture of science is short on interdisciplinary activity. The target of the network is strengthening Nordic science in the field and bringing about cohesion and better appreciation of different approaches among network members and and other interested Nordic scientists.

The network will join together several Nordic groups using state of the art techniques in different fields of biology, including molecular genetics, cell biology, ecology and physiology and oceanography, to further improve our understanding of spatial and temporal fitness variation and adaptation under changing environment. The network will offer small grants to create opportunities for exchange and training for researchers and research students and will increase Nordic competitiveness in these areas. The network will hold annual graduate student courses/workshops with the specific objectives of transfer of technology and knowledge and crosssfostering understanding and encouraging collaborative research. The network will also include Baltic and Russian scientists and students and encourage outreach and collaboration with European and North American workers.


Body type: Nordic Network